Maui Business

Following the impact of the Lahaina wildfires in August 2023, Maui Chocolate Tour will reopen its immersive cacao farm experience this month. Guests can once again enjoy a journey through the Maui Kuʻia Estate cacao farm and the largest chocolate factory in Hawaiʻi where tours are available daily.

Home Maid Bakery will officially shut down wholesale operations and its Lower Main Street location in Wailuku, effective April 29, the Kozuki family has announced on social media.

The president of solar energy company Independent Energy, Desta Rudolph, has donated $50,000 to Project Empower, a nonprofit that has focused on helping Maui recover from deadly wildfires that destroyed the historic town of Lahaina, displacing thousands of residents. The donation will bolster the collective efforts of a number of organizations to build 88 units of emergency housing at the 10-acre ʻOhana Hope Village.

SSFM International announced the promotion of five individuals within the firm. Promotions include: John Uno, PE, SE: Manager, Structural Engineering Group; Renee Ishisaka, PE, SE, LEED AP: Deputy Manager, Structural Engineering Group; Wendy McLain, PE, LEED AP: Deputy Manager, Civil Engineering Group; Daniel Kaiawe: Deputy Manager, Highways CM Group; and Lana Barrett, PMP: Deputy Manager, Project Management Group.

The Maui Food Technology Center is actively seeking Maui County businesses interested in participating in the prestigious Tokyo International Gift Show. Scheduled to be held at Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo International Exhibition Center on Sept. 4-6, 2024, TIGS presents a prime opportunity for local businesses to gain exposure in the international market.

Central Pacific Bank is accepting applications for the WE by Rising Tide program, a free initiative empowering women entrepreneurs to thrive.

Mayor Richard Bissen has appointed Maria Zielinski as director of the Maui County Department of Finance, and her appointment has been submitted for approval to the Maui County Council.

Pacific Resource Partnership and the Hawai‘i Regional Council of Carpenters is reminding workers on Tax Day, especially those in the construction industry, that it’s never okay for companies to pay employees under the table, deny them overtime pay and health benefits, or misclassify them as independent contractors.

Under the mayor’s budget this year, is the establishment of the East Maui Water Authority as a separate department. In addition, there’s a proposal to transfer $6 million in grants from the Administration Program to the Office of Economic Development. Caires also highlighted the addition of one expansion position, requests for public information officers, and CDGB funding for senior affordable rental housing and a resiliency center to serve wildfire survivors.

The Construction Industry of Maui today announced it is accepting applications from graduating Maui’s high school students, for its annual Bob Poulson CIM Scholarships.

After overcoming adversity following wildfires that devastated its previous location, Segway Maui is making its return to the island, and it’s doing it under a new name.

Duke’s Maui presented its inaugural Koho Pono award to 2024 honoree Edwin “Ekolu” Lindsey during a private ceremony at the restaurant last week.

The Internal Revenue Service reminds the public that it has postponed until Aug. 7, 2024, various tax-filing and tax-payment deadlines for individuals and businesses affected by the Aug. 8, 2023, Maui wildfires. Previously, the deadline was Feb. 15, 2024.

In a significant boost to aid Lahaina homeowners affected by last year’s wildfires, American Savings Bank (ASB) and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines) have announced an allocation of $400,000 to Hawaiʻi Community Lending through the FHLB Member Impact Fund.

Ameresco, Inc. is hosting a open house community meeting on Tuesday, May 7, to provide information and seek community input about its ‘Ūkiu Energy project located across from the Central Maui Landfill behind Hawaiian Electric’s Waena substation.

Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi announced the selection of its new president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals Hawaiʻi, Edmund “Ed” Chan. Chan’s roots in Hawaiʻi began early in his career. In 2000, after completing his Registered Dietitian training in Boston, he accepted a position as a clinical dietitian for Hale Makua Health Services in Kahului, Maui. Chan also took on roles at the Community Clinic of Maui and served as a consultant dietitian to Maui Youth & Family Services.

Foodland Super Market, Ltd. announced that Foodland Farms Lahaina will reopen at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 10. Located at Lahaina Gateway, Foodland Farms Lahaina has been closed since the Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires.

The Maui Chamber of Commerce is now accepting Product Vendor and Food Truck Vendor Applications for the 2024 Hawaiian Airlines Made in Maui County Festival. The 11th Annual event will be held at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on Nov. 1 and 2, 2024.

Fifteen Maui companies and one from Moloka‘i exhibited their products at the renowned 49th International Food and Beverage Exhibition 2024. More than two dozen other companies from Hawai‘i also took part in the FoodEx event, held from March 5-8 at the Tokyo Big Sight in the Tokyo International Exhibition Center.

Small-business owners are invited to a Spring Mentor-Protégé Program Workshop from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 26 at the Maui Economic Development Board’s Malcom Center in Kīhei.